pleasing

Do you like Taco Salad?

It's a family favorite around here.

We have it on every camping trip,
 every beach vacation,

many family gatherings and some birthdays.

It works for me because it is easy
 and everyone likes it...

even the little ones.

And it is good any time of the year.

I actually took these photos
 Super Bowl Sunday 

when we had some friends over for
 dinner and the game.

Not sure how the meat and chips miss out

on being in the picture!

Anyway, I am grateful that my family
 is easy to please

because I certainly enjoy pleasing them!

the right notes

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In our church, we have a ministry to the homebound... those in our church (and their families) who aren't able to get out much. There are people who visit, others who make phone calls, and folks like me who write notes expressing care and encouragement. I received the names of a husband and wife, the mom and step dad of a church member. I don't know them so I thought I would talk to the daughter to learn about them. If I knew what they enjoyed or were interested in, it might make it easier to write notes that would be meaningful and more personal to them.

So, Sunday, I did just that. Much to my surprise and, I must say, disappointment, she wasn't much help. She didn't know what they liked or enjoyed and wasn't even sure how old they were. Not knowing anything about the situation, I certainly cannot judge anyone. I know that relationships can be hard and people can be difficult (I speak from experience!) so there may be lots of issues in this family. But it did make me sad.

Having lost my mother when I was only 28, I know how precious it is to have time with your parents. And I know how much I value the time I spend with my children and grandchildren.  When I first started blogging, Anneliese posted about living "intentionally". She talked about being purposeful in making plans to spend time with friends and family...not waiting for others to make the first move. When we do that, time slips away as does opportunities to build relationships and to make memories.  That truth really spoke to me. Since then, I have tried to be more intentional...asking for the grands instead of waiting to be asked and initiating get togethers instead of waiting for others to do it. I will forever be grateful for Anneliese sharing that insight!

So... to get back to the notes I will be writing. I will be depending on the Lord for insight. I know that He knows what will be a blessing to them! I look forward to seeing what He has to say!

He is alive!

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Alive

by Natalie Grant

Who but You
Could breathe and leave a trail of galaxies
And dream of me?
What kind of love
Is writing my story till the end
With Mercy's Pen?
Only You.
What kind of King
Would choose to wear a crown
that bleeds and scars
To win my heart.
What kind of Love
Tells me I'm the reason He can't stay
Inside the grave
You.
Is it You?
Standing here before my eyes
Every part of my heart cries.
Alive, Alive
Look what Mercy's overcome
Death has lost and Love has won!
Alive, Alive
Hallelujah, Risen Lord
the only one I fall before
I am His
because He is
Alive.
Who could speak
and send the demons back from where they came
with just one name?
What other heart
would let itself be broken every time
until he healed mine?
You. Only you
could turn my darkness into dawn
running right into your arms
Alive, alive
Look what Mercy's overcome
Death has lost and Love has won!
Alive, alive!
Hallelujah, Risen Lord
the only one I fall before
  I am His
because He is
Emmanuel, the promised king
the baby who made angels sing
son of man who walked with us
healing, breathing in our dust
The author of all history
the answer to all mysteries
the lamb of God who rolled away
the stone in front of every grave.

Alive, alive
Look what Mercy's overcome
Death has lost and Love has won!
Alive
  I am His
because He is
alive
Alive

 

Happy Easter!

today's gifts

Here are a few of the things I am grateful for today:

171. signs that spring is just around the corner
172. shopping trips with people I love
173. finding just what you are looking for at the FIRST store!
174. getting to watch the grandboy play soccer
175. a handy hubby! :-)
176. fresh pineapple...oh my goodness!
177. Netflix... I really do like having access to so many options
        (and it is a bargain for $8 a month!)
178. the aroma of banana nut bread baking
179. Sleepy Time tea...so comforting!
180. having178 with 179!

With praise and thanks they sang this song to the Lord:

"He is so good"!!

Ez.3:11

the birthday girl

 Twenty six years ago on a Friday afternoon,

 our daughter was born. 

By the time she came along, they were doing sonograms 

and telling expectant moms whether they were

 having a boy or girl. But since we had to "wait to see"

 with our two boys, we decided to

be surprised. And SURPRISED we were!

I could hardly believe my ears, when the doctor said,

"You have a little girl!"

My throat choked up, my eyes filled with tears 

and I could not speak for a moment.

When I could, my first words were...

"Praise the Lord!"

I have been praising Him for her ever since!

 She has been a joy and delight.  

She has brought us to tears...

with her humor and with her beautiful singing.

She has made us proud with her accomplishments

and her excellent choices.

 

She works hard, plays with enthusiasm,

serves with a loving heart, gives generously,

loves genuinely and is always up for an adventure!

She loves her Lord, her family, the beach, good coffee,

most anything chocolate (especially M&M's!),

pretty dresses, a good pair of jeans, all kinds of shoes

 (except flip flops!),

fried shrimp, chicken parmigiana, a good steak, and diet coke.

She loves to sing, ride horses, watch movies, bake bread,

 be creative...on the computer or with her hands,

 and to make people laugh!

I am so grateful God chose to bless us with her!

I am also grateful that Jesus lives in her heart

and that she loves Him first...above all else!

We were the first to love her, but now she is loved by many!

Happy Birthday, Sweet Girl! 

I love you very much!

Re-Do # 4

Our home was built in1954. So, as you probably know,

 that means the closets were small. When the hubby and I

 moved in (1976),... since it was just the two of us...

 that didn't really matter so much

But, then the children came along

 and the closets filled up fast!

So, we bought an old oak wardrobe for Hubby

 to hang his clothes in. (Notice who got the closet!)

After about ten years, we added a master bathroom

 and a walk-in closet. I was debating what to do

 with the wardrobe, when it occurred to me 

 that we could use it as a food pantry

 (to replace the small one I talked about in the re-do #3 post). 

So, Hubby took the centers out of the doors

replaced them with chicken wire, and added shelves.

This is what it looked like:

 It served us well in that capacity for another 15 years. 

Part of our recent remodel was adding a pantry, so once again

this piece of furniture was obsolete. 

I was on the verge of selling it, when I decided it would make 

a nice cabinet to store DVDs, videos, and games.

So, once again, Hubby re-did the doors. This time,

he removed the wire and replaced it with bead board.

I sanded it and used a stain/polyurethane combo

to make it black to match the coffee and sofa tables.

Voila...the finished product!

I won't talk about the pain and suffering that the process

caused me...I'll just say I am pleased with the result! :-)

an old stand-by

Here's a dish I have been making for years. It's from the cookbook compiled by the ladies in the church we attended for 25 years. Many of my go-to recipes are in that book. As a matter of fact, I use it so much, it is tattered, stained, and falling apart! I really need to transfer my favorites onto recipe cards and put them in my recipe binder. Anyway, I digress.....the recipe! I like it for three reasons...it's easy, it's tasty, and the ingredients are all things I typically have on hand. 

So, here it is...

Five Spice Beef and Rice

1 lb ground beef
1 med onion (or 1/4 cup minced onion)
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can (16 oz) can diced or crushed tomatoes
1/8 tsp oregano, parsley, basil, garlic powder
salt and pepper, to taste (pepper is the fifth spice!)
1 cup uncooked rice
1 bag (8 oz) grated cheddar cheese

Cook rice according to directions. While rice is cooking, brown ground beef and onion in large skillet. Drain. Return to skillet. Add soup, tomatoes, and spices. Simmer for 20 min. Remove from heat. Add cooked rice and cheese (recipe says to top dish with cheese, but I have started mixing in it and like it better). Pour into 9x13 baking dish. Bake at 350 for 30 min.

I made it this week and it was as good as always. I appreciate a recipe that is reliable! :-)

Have a wonderful weekend!